In Short:
– Trump and Zelenskyy discussed a peace plan at Mar-a-Lago, expressing optimism despite unresolved territorial disputes.
– Zelenskyy indicated a 90% agreement on the peace plan, emphasising security guarantees and significant reconstruction funding for Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have held high-stakes talks at Mar-a-Lago, claiming a revised peace framework to end Russia’s nearly four-year war in Ukraine is now 90% agreed. The meeting followed weeks of negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials and came just hours after Trump held an unexpected phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move that reportedly caught Kyiv off guard.

Zelenskyy says security guarantees are the central breakthrough, with the plan allowing Ukraine to maintain an 800,000-strong military while receiving NATO Article 5-style protections from the United States and European allies. The proposal also includes an $800 billion reconstruction fund and an accelerated path toward European Union membership. Trump described the talks as “outstanding,” warning that without a deal, the conflict could drag on with devastating human costs.

However, major obstacles remain — particularly over territorial control in the eastern Donbas region and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Russia is demanding Ukraine surrender all of Donbas, while Kyiv wants borders frozen at the current battle lines. Washington has floated demilitarised and free economic zones, while Zelenskyy has signalled he may put the full proposal to a national referendum. The talks come as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, even as European leaders join calls to shape the next phase of negotiations.

In Short:
– Ukrainian President Zelenskyy offered a 20-point peace proposal to Russia to end the four-year war.
– The plan requires Russian troop withdrawal and includes NATO-like security guarantees for Ukraine’s defence.

Ukraine has formally presented a US-backed 20-point peace proposal to Russia, offering a potential framework to end the nearly four-year war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled the revised plan on December 23 after weeks of negotiations with American officials and formally delivered it to the Kremlin on December 24. The proposal includes NATO-style security guarantees, demilitarized zones in eastern Ukraine, and other measures designed to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty while reducing the risk of future conflict.

Under the plan, Ukraine would maintain a peacetime force of 800,000 troops and remain a non-nuclear state, with “Article 5-like” guarantees from the United States, NATO, and European partners. Territorial arrangements would require Russian forces to withdraw from parts of Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. Zelenskyy also floated the creation of demilitarized “free economic zones” in parts of Donetsk Oblast, but only if Russian troops pull back as well. One of the most contentious issues remains the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with the US proposing joint management by Ukraine, Russia, and the US, while Zelenskyy countered with a Ukraine-US partnership giving Americans oversight of their allocated energy share.

Fragile reality

Even as peace efforts advanced, the conflict raged on. On Christmas night, Russia launched 131 drones across Ukraine, with 106 intercepted by Ukrainian forces but 22 hitting 15 locations. The attacks killed at least two people and caused widespread power outages in several regions. The strikes highlighted the fragile reality of negotiations, showing that the road to peace remains perilous.

Moscow has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the proposal, though Russian officials have repeatedly rejected key provisions, including NATO-style security guarantees and territorial concessions. The agreement would be overseen by a Peace Council chaired by US President Donald Trump, with violations triggering automatic sanctions. Ratification would require either approval by Ukraine’s parliament or a nationwide referendum within 60 days, with a full ceasefire taking effect immediately once all parties accept the deal.

The plan represents the most comprehensive effort yet to bring Ukraine and Russia to the negotiating table, balancing security guarantees, territorial compromises, and oversight of strategic infrastructure. However, with ongoing attacks and deeply entrenched positions on both sides, analysts warn that achieving lasting peace will require unprecedented diplomacy and international cooperation.

In Short:
– The U.S. Justice Department released documents showing Ghislaine Maxwell’s emails linking Prince Andrew to Jeffrey Epstein.
– Andrew denies involvement with Epstein, settling a lawsuit without admitting guilt amidst rising scrutiny.

Nearly 30,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents were released by the U.S. Justice Department, including emails from 2001 between Ghislaine Maxwell and an individual signing as “A” from Balmoral. One email, signed “The Invisible Man,” asked Maxwell for “new inappropriate friends,” sparking renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew’s connections.

Subsequent evidence suggests the sender may have been Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, referencing personal details consistent with his life, including the death of his longtime valet and leaving the Royal Navy. A 2002 email further described “Andrew” as a “very English-sounding gentleman” coordinating a trip to Peru with requests for specific companions.

The documents reveal that U.S. prosecutors sought to interview Mountbatten-Windsor over two criminal investigations, citing evidence he engaged in sexual conduct involving one of Epstein’s victims. Despite mounting pressure and losing his royal titles, he has denied wrongdoing, settling a civil lawsuit without admitting guilt.